San Bernardino, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

San Bernardino Municipal Code grading provisions require erosion and sediment controls on all construction and grading sites to prevent sediment from leaving the parcel and entering streets or storm drains. For small single-family projects, best management practices include silt fences along the downslope perimeter, fiber rolls or gravel bags at inlets, stabilized construction entrances to prevent track-out onto paved streets, covered stockpiles, and wet suppression of dust (PM10 control) under South Coast AQMD Rule 403. Projects that disturb 1 acre or more of soil require coverage under the State Construction General Permit (Order 2022-0057-DWQ), a site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) prepared by a Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD), weekly and rain-event inspections, and electronic reporting through SMARTS. Hillside projects on slopes over 10 percent trigger additional engineered erosion controls, rock blankets, straw wattles on contour, temporary hydroseeding, and permanent native plant restoration. The rainy season in Southern California runs from October 1 through April 30, during which enhanced controls and wet-weather preparation are required under the General Permit. Tracking mud onto city streets from construction access points is a violation of the Municipal Code and is enforced by Public Works with citations, stop-work orders, and liability for street cleaning costs. In San Bernardino foothills, wildfire-related erosion after burn scars requires coordination with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and CalFire watershed emergency response teams.